Valve mechanism



March 10, 1936. G. ll MIORRlS 2,033,442

` Y VALVE MEGHANISM l Filedy Feb. 1.2, 1.934

7C'S4 al@ lll INVENTOR. 650,@@5 J. Mae/s Patented Mar. l0,- 19136YUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 12 Claims.

' `,My invention relates to valve mechanisms generally and same is moreparticularly designed and intended for use in conjunction with plumbingsystems.

Broadly speaking, my invention has for an object the provision ofautomatically controlled mechanism which, for example, will serve topositively destroy communication in one direction between a ball cock ora ush valve and the water intake pipe of an ordinary plumbing system ata time when there exists in the piping of the system conditions thattend to'compel a return flow of ushing water to the intake pipe byinduced siphonic actio Q It is 'understood 'that manyv forms of flushvalves will back-Siphon from aplumbing xtureincident to the comingtogether at a critical instant of the required forces, such,for in,-stance, as (1) upon the flooding of a -toilet bowl,

with the resulting formation of a vacuum at the flush valve mechanism;(2) upon sudden movement of thevalve from a normal closed position, thewater in the bowl being, let us say, at a normal level, at which momenta slight vacuum will be formed, the force of which is sufcient to causea back siphonage at the ush valve;y or

. (3) when under-sized water piping is employed'.

in a building 'and two or more ush valves on the same riser aresimultaneously operated, at

which time a vacuum will be formed at some other ,flush valve ofsumcient force to induce a back-Siphonage at 'said other valve.

An analysis of water samples taken from fountains and lavatoriesdisclosed,

without question, thepresence' therein of' bacteria coli. Thesefountains and lavatories were regularly installed in a4 plumbing systemof usual form. A laboratory test of a. common form of iish valve takenfrom the same system proved 40 that the plunger of ,the valve would jumpopen and with the water in the bowl at its normal level a vacuum wasformed at the valve, the force of which lwas suilicient to causeback-Siphonage, thus proving very conclusively that ilush water may getby the valve and re-enter the intake pipe even though the water in thebowl occupies its normal level. It hasbeen further proven that in thetank type of water closet, if the onset of a vacuum occurs when theoatis down and the ball-cock isthusopen for refilling the tank,

the remaining contents of the tank will be withdrawn back into thebuilding piping system by the vacuum thus `produced. It obviously fol- 4lows that when onceushing water has 4been I delivered to a ushtank it isnot intended, for

sanitary reasons, thatl it be used at any other place in the system.Conditions existing inthe common forms of iiush tanks are known to besuch as will necessarily promote the growth of algae or fungi, slime andother lth, and that '5 this water is thus pollutedl and contaminated.Should one drink thereof sickness could obviously be expected to follow.It should, therefore, be borne in mind that regardless of the type lofushing means employed in any con- 10 ventional system, same is vmostalways an integral part ofthe system, and is, therefore, connected inthe saine piping from which water is intended to be delivered to otherilxtures, such as sink and tub faucets, drinking founts, 15 etc. It isclearly to be understood, therefore, that water which has been pollutedmay, at some time or another, nd its way to those xtures Awhere use ofsuch water' would be dangerous.

An important object of my invention is to 20 provide a valve mechanismwhose parts are so structurally designed that when a vacuum is formed inthe intake pipe or line it will automatically act directly upon themechanism and eiect' an. instantaneous sealing oi of the Jpol- 25 lutedor contaminated water at the ixture with which it is used, thuspositively preventing this water from returning to the intake pipe whereit would otherwise be permitted or, in fact, compelled, to find escapefrom some other :fixture 30 in the system. 1 f When the invention isemployed in association with water lcloset ilush tanks, its design,construction and' arrangement of parts employed are such thatthe-operation of the mechanism 35 will in no manner be interfered`withby movements of the valve plunger.

Another object is to provide in said mechanism means which will functionas set forth, and in addition thereto enable the mechanism 40 to operatein a perfectly quiet manner at all times.

With the above and .other objects in view, which will appear as thenature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in. the45 improved construction and novel arrangements of parts which willhereinafter be fully described and particularly pointed outin the heretoappended claims.

In the accompanying drawing has been illus- 50 v trated a single andpreferredform of the invention wherein sameis employed as a ball cock,it being understood, however, that this is not to be considered asalimitatiombut. that it may be employed in connection withV ush valves,or other valve mechanisms.

In the said drawing,

Figure -1 is a vertical section through the is aA section taken on line3-"3 of Upon the upper end of the pipe B is mounted a ball cock I0, thesame consisting of a casing II having a vertical bore I2 of smalldiameter and a communicatinglarger bore I3. The reduced bore I2 hasslidably mounted therein a plunger type valve element I4 whose upper endis operatively connected at I5 to the power transmitting or lifting armI5a of any well known form of link mechanism I6 with whichv the floatrod I1 is connected as shown. It follows that from the arrangement ofthe parts just referred to motion in a vertical direction willbeimparted to the plunger I4, according as the rod II isV moved in" onedirection .or another, as is the ordinary operation of such mechanisms.The

plunger I4 is provided with an annular sealing ring I8 which coacts withthe walls of the bore I2 to provide a water tight joint between saidwalls and said plunger.

Threadedly secured to the .lower'end of the casing II is a member I9,the same having a lower end of the bore I3 against leakage. This broadbase flange 20 whose upper face is adapted to be securely advancedagainst the adjacent at face 2l of the casing, so as to securely sealthe member is formed with a tubular extension 22 which passes-part wayinto the enlarged ,bore I3 and same is formed-with an axial intake port23 which connects .directly with the water intake pipe B. The extension22 is concentrically related. to the walls of the said bore I3 so thatanannular water chamber 24 is thus formed, between the extension andsaid walls, lthe 'purpose of which I will explain` presently. Formed inthe lower body. portion of the casing II is a radial port way 25, oneend of which opens to the chamber 24 and the other end thereof connectswith the upper end of a depending lling tube or pipe C'- from whichlatter water may be taken into the tank A when the link mechanism )f6 isactuated in the usual manner. The upper endfof the extension 22constitutes a valve seat against which the sealingdisk .or face 2 6at'the lower portion of the -plunger I4 is adapted to bear when theplunger is in'its fully lowered posivtion. A

Intermediate of its ends and formed as an integral4 part of' theextension is an annular shoulder -2'I and above said shoulder saidextension is threaded as-at 28 for thev adjustable accommodation of aclamping nut 29. Interposed between said nut 29`and said shoulder 21/isa flexible cupped washer 30. This washer is preferably formed of thinleather or other suitable well known material, and same has an annularskirt 3I. It will be noted that with the skirt interposed between theperipheral surface 1", showof the shoulder 2'1-and the'walls ofthe'enlarged inner 4 face of said skirt and said peripheral surface ofthe shoulder so as to allow said skirt to move radially to -one or theother of two extreme positions. When the skirt `is spread outwardly toits full extent, its exterior face is yieldinglyand rmly presented tothe walls of the chamber 24, at which time no waterwill'be allowed toiiow past same in a 4direction leading from; the port way 25.l When theskirt moves l to its other extreme position, where its inner face ispresented rather securely against the periphery of the shoulder 21., anannular space will be provided between the walls of the bore I3 and theexterior surface of the skirt, whereby topermit water as it leaves theseat end of the extension 22 to ow downwardly into the chamber 24,thence to the filling pipe C by way of the port way 25, such as would benecessary vbore 24,"a clearances provided between the when lling thetank C. This will be clearlyV understood on reference to Figures 2 and 4of the drawing.

Having described the essential structural features of the' invention andthe operative relationship of one structural part to the other, theirfunctional actions will be described as follows:

When the plunger I4 is elevated so as to uncover the seat at the upperend of-the extension 22, water may freely pass to the tank A, as

, previously described. It will be appreciated that by reason of thepressure behind the waterthe skirt 3I will be acipd upon thereby andcircumferentially contracted, at which time 'the aforesaid space will beformed between ther externall surface of the skirt and the walls of thebore I3. It is for this reason that an unobstructed .passageway is` prvided, whereby the water may quickly enter the tank. The flexiblenon-metal-A lic action of the leather skirt aiords means which acts toeffectively silence the movement of the water as it proceeds over thecourse. just Y referred to. More or less of a hush well isprovidedbeneath` the skirt, and this too functions to materially quietthe action` of the mechanism during the movement of said water. Now; letit be assumed that due tol any one of the several causes rst abovereferred to a vacuum is formed in the pipe B, at which time the plungerI4--is slightly raised from its seat. In consequence thereof, A anupward pulling force is created in the bore I3 at a point just above theskirt 3l and of sucient amplitude to expand or spread -the skirtcircumferentially, thus rm-v ly forcing its external surface against thewalls of the bore I3 so as to positively lprevent water in the tank 'Afrom finding passage to the pipe 'B. 'Ihe skirt, therefore, acts as avalve .whichautomatically co-acts with the element I4 during regularadmission or supply of water to the tank, and, secondly, as a valve toseal off the tank A from said pipe B. In view thereof, I s hall,'in the'claims to follow, refer tosaid skirt broadly as a exible pneumaticallyinuenced non-metallic valve. The plunger I4 and its coacting seatconstitute the intake valve by means of which water-may be supplied tosaidtank. Y 1It is to'be understood that I have, merely for the purposeof suitable illustration, named certain causes that are responsible forback siphonage in plumbing systems, but that many additional causescould be readily added to those first referred to. It may be. generallyvstated that no matter what may be the precise hereinl fully disclosedand described has been found most reliable for the purpose of arrestingthe reverse flow of water when pressure or suction in the line tends toset up a reverse ow in said line.- It follows that'whenever in plumbingsystems there is a submerged inlet, water will of necessity be divertedfrom the xture, the moment a particular valve or other cross connectionjumps open.

What is claimed is: v

1. A valve structure comprising a casing hav- .intake port; andnon-metallic, circumferentially expansible and contractible valve meansintrposed between the member and the walls of the chamber andco-operable with .the latter when in one position and when the.aforesaid valve element is moved to uncover said seat to allow water tobe transferred to the outlet port from said intake port and adaptedAwhenin another position and when said element is moved away from itsseat to arrest a return flow of -water to the intake port from saiddischarge port.

2. A valvestructure comprising a casing'hav ing an axial bore and amember having an ex'- tension passing into the bore and bearing arelationship to' the walls thereof so as to define an annular chamberbetween said walls and the extension, vthe extension having an intakeport co-operable with the chamber and adapted to effect a transfer ofwater to the chamber, a liquid controlled valve element co-operable withthe port and serving to normally close same and adapted to respectivelycover and uncover same; the casing having a discharge port opening tothe chamber, and a exible non-metallic valve located in the chamber at apoint between the discharge port and the intake port and cooperable withthe walls of the chamber so that when the valve element is moved touncover the intake port, water discharging from` said intake port mayfreely pass'said exible non-metallic valve and flow to said outlet port,the saidV valve being also directly co-operable with the discharge portso that -when the valve is lacted lupon by suction induced at the intakeport and the latter is uncovered, a return now of the l water to theintake port from the discharge 3. A valve structure having a chamber,means extending into the chambenand provided with an intake port adaptedto open intol the chamber, an .axially movable liquid controlled valveelement co-operable-with s'aid means to respectively cover and :uncoversaid intake port and being concentrlcally spaced from the walls of saidchamber, the structure having adisc/harge port opening to the chamber,-and an annular skirtl surrounding ,said means at a point to one side ofthe discharge, port being of a exible non-metallicl material capable ofbeing acted lupon `bythe pressure of water as the water leaves theintake -port so as to allow the water to now to said discharge port andto be acted vupon by suction induced at one side thereof to to normallycover same, said means.

charge port ofthe structure and including a, chamber in which the valveelement is adapted to operate, comprising a memberhaving a part formedwith an intake port adapted to' co-act ,with said valve element; andsuction actuated 'valve means carried by said part and positioned toco-act with the walls of the chamber nd adapted to be inserted into thechamber and,

the intake port so as to' arresta return )flow of water to the intakeport of the member from the discharge portV of the structure upon thesetting up o f a suction in the chamber of the structure, and adapted tobe acted upon by the pressure of waterduring movement of the water fromthe intake portto said discharge port. A

5. As a new article of manufacture, means for arresting a return flow ofwater to the intake pipe of a valve structure ofthe type including av'sliding liquid actuated valve element for controlling admission ofwate'r to aA discharge port of the structure and including a chamber inwhich the valve. element isadapted to operate,

comprising a member having a part adapted to be inserted into thechamber and formed with an intake port adapted to co-act with said valveelement; -and suction actuated valve means carried by said part andpositionedto co-act with the .walls 'of the chamber and the intake portso as to arrest a return flow of water to the @intake port of the memberfrom the discharge port of the structure upon the setting up of asuction in the .chamber of the structure, and adapted. to be acted uponby thelpfressur-e of water during movement of the water from the intakeport to said discharge port, said suction actuated valve beingcharacterized by a flexible radially movable skirt extending about vsaidpart.

6. =A valve mechanism comprising a structure provided with a by-passchamber, an intake port and an outlet port, the former occupying aposition axially of the chamber and beingformed :so that. itsexteriorwalls are spaced` apart from the Walls of the chamber, a slidablymounted liquid controlled valve element cooperable with the intake portand normally closing same, and an annular pressure inuenced valveelement offlexible material concentrlcally positioned in the chamber'and extending about th'e'exterior walls of the intake port and includingan annular skirt clipped in Athedirectionof the discharge port andmovable freely relatively to the walls of'said chamber, as and for thepurpose set forth.-

ArI. A valvemechanism comprising a structure provided with a-by-passchamber, an intake port and an outlet port,- the former occupying aposi..- tion axially of the chamber and-'being formed so thatitsexterior w'allsare spaced apart from the walls of the' chamber, aslidably mounted 'liquid controlled valve element co-operable with `theintakeport and normally'- closing same, and

an annular pressure influenced valve element Vof exible materialconcentrlcally positioned in the chamber and 'extending about theexteri'or'walls 'IllA of said chamber, the walls ofthe intake nating `atone end in a`valve seat disposedY end formed to provide a seat which isco-oper,y

able with the reciprocal valve to enable the intake port to be openedand closed by the valve and said valve being normally engaged with saidseat; and a valve carried by the extenf sion and co-operablev with theinner walls of the chamber to' openqthe discharge 'port to the intakeport Awhen the reciprocal valve is opened and to close the dischargeport from the intake 1port against returnmovement of water to the latterfrom the discharge port should thereciprocal valve leave its seat.

9. In a valveriorgaization for water closet flush tanks of the floatactuated type; a casing having a ported member for attachment to asupply'pipe for water under pressure and said. casing having a chamberinto which said member is extended andlinto which water can dischargefrom the port of the member and said member, being 'concentricallyspaced apart from the walls-lof said chamber; the4 member termi- 1within thechamber; thegcasingh'aving a filling pipe in-communicationwith the chamber; a

iiuid pressure actuated valve f in said ,chamber movable relative tothewalls thereof to respectively open and close communication -between "theportof the member and said filling pipej andaiio'at actuated valvemovablegin the cham ber relative to the seat ,of saidfmernber andbeingnormally' engaged therewith to` close the port' of` vthe member"from said chamber. A 10.`A valve mechanism comprisinga casing having anintake port and a. valve movable in` the casing `from-a position closingthe port to a position opening same; said casing" liavingar dischargeport to which liquid can pass from the intake port when the latter visopen; a circumferentially expansible and contractible valve in saidcasing, the size of which will enable same to close against the innerwalls of the casing `when the valve is expanded; and means for mountingthe last named valve to dispose same between said ports to enable samewhen expanded to close the intake port from the outlet portIv and`adapted when contracted, to provide a circumferential clearance betweensaid valve and the inner walls of the casing for passage of liquid tothe outlet port from said .inlet port.' A

`11. 'A valve mechanism comprising a casing having an intake port and avalve movable in thecasing from a position closing said port tov aposition opening same; said casing having a discharge port to whichliquid can be conducted fromthe intake port; 'an expansible and con-'tractible valve in the casing, -the size, form and .cot-operable withthe intake port;y means for controlling `said valve to respectively openand close said intake port;` and a cup-shapedvalve contained in thecasing and disposed between theintake port an'd said outlet port andbeing of a. size and of a material to`enable such contraction thereof;by. pressure' thereagainst .of liquid whensaidgflrst valve is opened bysaid controlling means to v.enable liquid to pass from the intake. port'to'the outlet port and between the circumference of the valve and theinner wallsof4 the casing, and said valve being expansible against theinner walls of the casing by^ suction induced at the intake port, thusclosing the latter from the outlet port against Vreturndiow of liquidvto the inlet port from` said outlet port. f, v GEORGE J. MORRIS.

